Cone sleeve

ABSTRACT

A package for hand-held frozen ice cream cones comprising a rolled, cone-shaped polymer film sleeve. The package is made from at least one layer of polymer film, and is sealed along a side wall. The package has a tip at a first end and may be open or sealed at a second end, and if sealed, may include a lid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to packaging for components offrozen novelties. More particularly, the invention relates to a uniqueform of a cone sleeve used for pre-packaged ice cream cone desserts.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

Pre-packaged frozen novelties, are quite common, including desserts suchas ice cream cones. Such ice cream cones typically are individuallywrapped in a corresponding cone-shaped sleeve covering at least the coneportion of the frozen novelty product. The cone sleeves are commonlymade with a paper, foil or paper and foil laminate substrate that isrolled into a cone shape, having a tip at one end and being open at theother end. Such cone-shaped packages offer structural protection for thecone, and often include a lid, attached by means such as gluing orcrimping the lid to the open end of the cone shaped sleeve.

While paper is a good material for receiving printing, it has drawbacksas a material for cone sleeves. Paper tends to absorb moisture and doesnot provide a good barrier to moisture or air, which are harmful to thefreshness of a product. Also, paper, foil or paper and foil laminatesoften present difficulties to the consumer when trying to open theindividually wrapped ice cream cone packages. Such materials can bedifficult to tear, and often tear in unpredictable patterns. Therefore,they may include perforations to facilitate tearing. However, theperforations then compromise the effectiveness of the air and moisturebarrier provided by the cone sleeve. Cone sleeves employing foil alsocan raise issues when subjecting the products to metal detectiontesting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose and advantages of the invention will be set forth in andapparent from the description and drawings that follow, as well as willbe learned by practice of the invention.

The new invention replaces the paper, foil or laminated paper and foilsubstrate historically used for the conical sleeves that surroundindividually pre-packaged ice cream cones with a cone-shaped sleeve madeat least of one layer of a polymer film. The polymer film layer also maybe included in a laminate with at least another layer of polymer film orwith a layer of metallized polymer film. These new polymer film basedcone sleeves will provide three unique advantages that are not allpresent in sleeves of current substrates. First, polymer film based conesleeves will provide a superior air and moisture barrier that willenhance product quality in the form of maintaining the texture andfreshness, resulting in increased shelf life and consumer satisfaction.Second, the use of polymer film based materials will provide enhancedgraphic display allowing for excellent printing quality, includingtechniques such as reverse printing which currently is not available onpaper based sleeves. Third, such polymer film based materials providegreater ease and predictability in tearing, without the need forperforations that would otherwise compromise the integrity and barriercharacteristics of the package. If the polymer film used does notinclude any metal, the cone sleeves additionally may be passed throughmetal detection devices, providing enhanced security checks, unlikesleeves using prior art metal foils. Accordingly, the present inventionaddresses shortcomings in the prior art, while providing the abovementioned desirable features in a unique cone-shaped sleeve product.

The present invention is generally embodied in a package for hand-heldfrozen ice cream cones comprising a rolled, cone-shaped polymer filmsleeve. In a first aspect of the invention, the film sleeve is sealedalong a side wall. In a second aspect of the invention, the packagefurther comprises a tip at a first end and is sealed at a second endopposite the tip. In a third aspect of the invention, the package mayfurther comprise a laminate of at least two layers of polymer film. In afourth aspect of the invention, the seal at the second end may be formedby a heat seal operation. In a fifth aspect of the invention, thepackage further includes a lid located at the second end.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and provided forpurposes of explanation only, and are not restrictive of the invention,as claimed. Further features and objects of the present invention willbecome more fully apparent in the following description of the preferredembodiments and from the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In describing the preferred embodiments, reference is made to theaccompanying drawing figures wherein like parts have like referencenumerals, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a package for a hand-held frozen ice creamcone having a rolled, cone-shaped polymer film sleeve of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a polymer film portion cut into a shapeto be formed into a cone sleeve as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a further perspective view of the package of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section view of an ice cream cone in a cone sleeve ofthe present invention having an extended portion at the end opposite thetip.

FIG. 5 is a cross-section view of a further embodiment of a package ofthe present invention further including a domed lid.

FIG. 6 is a cross-section view of a further embodiment of a package ofthe present invention including a two-layer laminate and a recessed lid.

FIG. 7 is a cross-section view of a further embodiment of a package ofthe present invention including a flat lid.

FIG. 8 is a cross-section view of an ice cream cone in a cone sleeve ofthe present invention having the polymer film of the cone sleeve pressedtogether, sealed and folded toward the ice cream cone at the second end.

FIG. 9 is a cross-section view of an ice cream cone in a cone sleeve ofthe present invention having the polymer film of the cone sleeve pressedtogether and sealed at the second end.

It should be understood that the drawings are not to scale. While somedetails of the preferred embodiments of the package of the presentinvention, and other plan and section views of the particularcomponents, have been omitted, such details are not per se part of thepresent invention and are considered within the comprehension of thoseskilled in the art in light of the present disclosure. It also should beunderstood that the present invention is not limited to the preferredembodiments illustrated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring generally to FIGS. 1-9, it will be appreciated that a packagefor hand-held frozen ice cream cones 20 (ice cream not shown) having arolled, cone-shaped polymer film cone sleeve 30 generally may beembodied within numerous configurations.

A package 10 having a polymer film ice cream cone sleeve 30 of thepresent invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, may be produced by usingcurrent generally accepted methods of spiral winding a substrateportion. In FIG. 2, film layer 40 is shown in a flat pre-rolled format.Once wound around a conical mandrel, film layer 40 becomes a rolled,cone-shaped sleeve 30. The sleeve 30 has a first end with a closed tip32 and an open second end 34 opposite the first end 32. The stockpolymer film product may be fed into a winding machine either in acontinuous roll stock form or by means of dispensing pre-die-cutmaterial through a loading magazine. In either format, a film layer 40,such as shown in FIG. 2, is wound around a conical mandrel. The filmlayer is preferably cut into a substantially triangular shape and mayhave a rounded apex to facilitate forming tip 32. The polymer film layer40 may be of many types, with the preferred material being apolypropylene film manufactured by Arjobex. It is preferred that thefilm layer 40 be structurally capable of maintaining a cone-shape, withthe preferred single layer material being approximately 4.5 mils thick.Other thicknesses and materials may be suitable.

The film layer 40 also may be a part of a laminate substrate whichincludes two or more layers of polymer film, such as shown in FIG. 6with additional polymer film layer 42. Such laminates may be formed byknown cohesive technology such as by heat sealing or co-extruding thelayers prior to rolling into a cone-shaped sleeve 230. Also, at leastone of the layers may have a metallized coating, depending on thedesired characteristics.

Upon winding the film layer 40 or laminate into a cone-shaped sleeve 30,it is desirable to seal the sleeve along a side wall 36 by using cold orhot production-applied adhesive, although pre-applied pressure sensitiveadhesive also may be used. One may use both a cold adhesive, and forinitial bonding, a heat-activated adhesive, hot glue or other heatsealing operation to complete the seal along the side wall. It ispreferred that any adhesive be applied at a small distance, such as 3-7millimeters, from the edge of the film layer. This seal locationessentially forms a small flap 38 along the outer side wall seam toenhance the consumer's ability to grasp the film to tear the packageaway, exposing the ice cream cone 20. To further control the locationand predictability of the tearing, it also is preferred that the filmlayer 40 or laminate have a notch 44 pre-cut in the flap edge, as shownin FIGS. 1-3.

The open end 34 of sleeve 30 may extend only to the top of the coneportion of ice cream cone 20 to protect the cone. Alternatively,referring to the embodiment in FIG. 4, it can be seen that the open end34 of cone-shaped sleeve 30 may extend beyond the cone 20. The extendedportion at open end 34 may accommodate various ways of sealing a packagein accordance with the present invention, as seen in FIGS. 5-9. Forinstance, the package 110 in FIG. 5 includes a dome-shaped lid 50.Dome-shaped lid 50 is preferably made of a transparent polymer materialand has a dome portion 52 and an upward turned outer edge 54. The upperedge of cone sleeve 30 at open end 34 may be folded over edge 54 of lid50.

Referring to FIG. 6, the package 210 has a sleeve 230 that is formedwith a laminate of polymer film layers 40 and 42. The package 210includes a press-in, recessed lid 60 having a flat center portion 62 andan upward turned outer edge 64. Depending on the material used for lid60, which may be of a variety of choices, including at least atransparent or opaque polymer, a paper, a coated paper or a foil, lid 60may be sealed to sleeve 30 by a corresponding snap-in structure known inprior art packages, or by an adhesive or heat seal operation.

A further alternative lid combination is shown with the package 310 inFIG. 7, where a flat disk lid 70 is shown in sealing engagement withcone sleeve 30. The upper edge of cone sleeve 30 at open end 34 is showncrimped over flat disk lid 70. Once again, depending on the material oflid 70, cone sleeve 30 may be simply crimped, or may further utilizeadhesive or a heat sealing operation to enhance the seal engagement withlid 70.

The alternative embodiments shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 provide at least twofurther ways in which a seal may be formed at open end 34, but withoutuse of a separate lid. In FIG. 8, cone sleeve 30 not only is gatheredand pressed together, but also is folded toward the ice cream cone 20 toseal package 410. FIG. 9 shows a further sealed package 510 without aseparate lid, where the cone sleeve 30 is pressed together at open end34. In the embodiments of FIGS. 8 and 9, cone sleeve 30 may be sealedwith the use of adhesive, or may be heat-sealed where pressed together.

It will be appreciated that the package for hand-held frozen ice creamcones of the present invention may be provided in variousconfigurations, whether open or sealed. Moreover, a variety of suitablematerials of construction, configurations, shapes and sizes for thecone-shaped sleeves may be used to satisfy the particular needs andrequirements of ice cream cone producers. It also should be understoodthat where use of a lid is preferred, a variety of materials,constructions, configurations, shapes and sizes for lids may be used incompleting ice cream cone packages. It will be apparent to those skilledin the art that various modifications can be made without departing fromthe scope or spirit of the present invention.

1. A package for hand-held frozen ice cream cones comprising a rolled,cone-shaped polymer film sleeve.
 2. The package of claim 1 wherein thesleeve is sealed along a side wall.
 3. The package of claim 2 wherein aflap of the polymer film is formed adjacent the seal along the side walland the flap further comprises a notch.
 4. The package of claim 2wherein the seal along the side wall is formed with an adhesive appliedto the film.
 5. The package of claim 4 wherein the adhesive furthercomprises a pressure sensitive adhesive applied to the film prior torolling the film into a cone shape.
 6. The package of claim 2 whereinthe seal along the side wall is formed via a heat seal operation.
 7. Thepackage of claim 1 wherein the cone-shaped sleeve further comprises atip at a first end and is open at a second end located opposite the tip.8. The package of claim 1 wherein the cone-shaped sleeve furthercomprises a tip at a first end and is sealed at a second end locatedopposite the tip.
 9. The package of claim 8 wherein the seal at thesecond end is formed by a heat seal operation.
 10. The package of claim8 wherein the seal at the second end is formed at least in part byfolding over the polymer film at the second end.
 11. The package ofclaim 8 wherein the package further comprises a lid located at thesecond end.
 12. The package of claim 11 wherein the lid is sealed to thesleeve.
 13. The package of claim 12 wherein the lid is sealed to thesleeve by crimping the sleeve over a portion of the lid.
 14. The packageof claim 12 wherein the lid is sealed to the sleeve with an adhesivethat engages the lid and the sleeve.
 15. The package of claim 14 whereinthe adhesive that seals the lid to the sleeve is applied to the polymerfilm prior to rolling the polymer film into the cone-shaped sleeve. 16.The package of claim 14 wherein the adhesive that seals the lid to thesleeve is applied to the cone-shaped sleeve prior to the lid beingjoined with the sleeve.
 17. The package of claim 14 wherein the adhesivethat seals the lid to the sleeve is applied to a surface of the lidprior to the lid being joined with the sleeve.
 18. A package forhand-held frozen ice cream cones comprising a rolled, cone-shapedpolymer film sleeve, the sleeve further comprising a laminate of atleast two layers with each layer being a polymer film.
 19. The packageof claim 18 wherein the sleeve is sealed along a side wall.
 20. Thepackage of claim 19 wherein a flap of the laminate film is formedadjacent the seal along the side wall and the flap further comprises anotch.
 21. The package of claim 19 wherein the seal along the side wallis formed with an adhesive applied to the laminate.
 22. The package ofclaim 21 wherein the adhesive further comprises a pressure sensitiveadhesive applied to the laminate prior to rolling the laminate into acone shape.
 23. The package of claim 19 wherein the seal along the sidewall is formed via a heat seal operation.
 24. The package of claim 18wherein the cone-shaped sleeve further comprises a tip at a first endand is open at a second end located opposite the tip.
 25. The package ofclaim 18 wherein the cone-shaped sleeve further comprises a tip at afirst end and is sealed at a second end located opposite the tip. 26.The package of claim 25 wherein the seal at the second end is formed bya heat seal operation.
 27. The package of claim 25 wherein the seal atthe second end is formed at least in part by folding over the laminateat the second end.
 28. The package of claim 25 wherein the packagefurther comprises a lid located at the second end.
 29. The package ofclaim 28 wherein the lid is sealed to the sleeve.
 30. The package ofclaim 29 wherein the lid is sealed to the sleeve by crimping the sleeveover a portion of the lid.
 31. The package of claim 29 wherein the lidis sealed to the sleeve with an adhesive that engages the lid and thesleeve.
 32. The package of claim 31 wherein the adhesive that seals thelid to the sleeve is applied to the laminate prior to rolling thelaminate into the cone-shaped sleeve.
 33. The package of claim 31wherein the adhesive that seals the lid to the sleeve is applied to thecone-shaped sleeve prior to the lid being joined with the sleeve. 34.The package of claim 31 wherein the adhesive that seals the lid to thesleeve is applied to a surface of the lid prior to the lid being joinedwith the sleeve.
 35. The package of claim 18 wherein the at least twolayers of polymer film are joined as a laminate by a heat sealoperation.
 36. The package of claim 18 wherein the at least two layersof polymer film are co-extruded as the laminate.
 37. The package ofclaim 18 wherein at least one of the layers is a polymer metallizedfilm.